Hi Everyone,

Not too much to report. Feels a little like groundhog day at our place ... change, feed, play, cry, sleep and then REPEAT. But we are slowly but surely edging our way closer to 6 weeks and a hopefully more settled baby.

MIL has settled down thankgod.
Not sure if it was SIL or DH who told her to pull her head in. She is actually coming around and helping without the added criticisms. Although my new tactic of dealing with her is to busy myself when she visits. I usually hand over the baby so she can have cuddles and then I go clean the kitchen, put a load of washing on, hang a load out or just busy myself in another room.
It gives her nice time with Willow and I don't get so upset or uptight about her being there and being her usually nutty self.
Anyway, it's my coping strategy at the moment.

We have introduced a comp feed (formula) of an afternoon for Willow.
Was hard to do, I am really pro-breastfeeding, however DH and I were at our wits end.
We tried everything ... rocking, patting, walking, glider chair, sling, car ride, pram ride ... the only thing we hadn't tried to assist with settling was a comp feed.
It took all my effort to put the bottle into Willow's mouth and low and behold the little bugger took the bottle straight away and we've not looked back.
She has two comp feeds a day - the afternoon and evening feed - when my milk production is at it's lowest and Willow is usually at her hungriest. I am still breastfeeding as much as I did (around every 3-4 hours) but just following up the two late in the day feeds with a 60ml bottle.
Not sure if it is the comp feed, the fact I am settling into Motherhood or maybe Willow is growing and settling herself, but we have had a reasonable 4 days.

It's only been these last 3 or so days that I can say I am happy to be a Mum ... I have really struggled getting through these first 4 weeks. Would never want to repeat them, but looking forward now.

Hope everyone is doing OK and settling into our new roles.